Last week I wrote about the need for an available nursery. You can refer back to that, and Pastor Jason’s article along the same theme here:
https://www.c3ak.com/news-posts/2022/7/13/kids-say-the-darndest-things-pastor-jason-souza
https://www.c3ak.com/news-posts/2022/7/13/building-c3ak-
This week, I want briefly touch on the next level of ministry for the youngest of our congregation and those who will join us in the future, children 5 to 5th grade.
C3AK has long had a core value that children should be with their parents in the Sunday service, but we also recognize the value of specific ministry for children. As such, our model is to have the kids with us in the musical worship portion of the service and dismiss them during the preaching, while they are always welcome to remain in the service if you like.
The reasons for this are centered around two main ideas. One, kids need to see their parents worship. Two, our children need to know they are part of the “big church” so when they are older, it isn’t a foreign environment. For this reason, we usually program at least one Sunday a month where the kids stay in the main service for the entire time.
I wish I had an easy way to convince parents, after 30 years of trial and error and observation, that secluded and specialized programs that remove their kids and teens from “big church” to always have their own services and events is a mistake, but it is. That means we probably won’t ever have an airplane hanging from the roof of our children’s wing, or a professional staff of 5 kids ministers, or many of the other super awesome-ish things churches have for their children's ministry. What we can, and do have, are kind caring people who are willing to spend 30 or so minutes with your littles to tell them about the wonders of God. As that happens, they not only learn about the Lord, but they can build friendship with their peers and with properly vetted adults who have a concern for future generations.
Where C3AK is in this ministry, at the moment, is we need volunteers who will be those adults. Do we have a ton of children in this age group? Currently, we do not. Can I tell you one of the hardest things I ever have to deal with as a pastor?
Children’s Ministry
It’s often difficult to gather volunteers. It doesn’t matter if you have one child for Sunday’s Kids World class or 10…. We still need the same number of volunteers and someone has to show up.
The reality is, no church will grow if they don’t serve their children and families with children.
This fall, after Labor Day, we will be hoping to begin Kids World on Sundays. We may begin with offering it every other week. In any case, we need people who will love the kids for 30 minutes or so if we intend to serve families.
Is that you? Do you have friends who have kid and want to help build a
children’s ministry, from the ground up? Will you pray for God to help us grow in the ways He has planned for us?
Next week: Student Ministry
Blessings,
Pastor Tracy